About The Banks County news. (Homer, Banks County, Ga.) 1968-current | View Entire Issue (June 18, 2025)
PAGE 8A BANKS COUNTY NEWS WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18, 2025 Obituaries Ethel Louise Ervin Bridges Ethel Louise Ervin Bridges, 77, cherished moth er, grandmother, great-grandmother and sister, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 13, 2025. Born in Walhalla, South Carolina, she was a daughter of the late Jeff D. Ervin and Eth el Owens Ervin. Mrs. Bridges worked for more than 30 years in the cafeteria at Ila Ele mentary School. She enjoyed travel ing, camping, cooking and most importantly, she thrived on spending time with her precious family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Clayton Paul Bridges; and her siblings, William Ervin and Sally Mae Ervin. Survivors include her children, Judy McCarty (Clark), Pam Bond (Lamar), Wade Bridges (Angel) and Mark Bridges (Nancy); step-children, Wesley Bridges, Mike Bridges, Pasha Bridges and Vicki Bridges; siblings, Albert Ervin, Nellie Sue Cloer and Mary Frances Holder; grandchildren, Malcom McCarty, Mitchell McCarty (Ellison), Ethan Bond, Elliott Bond, Emily Kate Shelton (Andy), Lau ren Bridges, Jake Bridges and Cameron Bridges; step-grandchildren, Ashley Bridges, Aaron Bridg es (Kelsey), Tiffany Chandler (Josh) and Heather Carey (Cody); numerous great-grandchildren; and in-laws, Carolyn Ervin, Clifford and Jane Bridges and Doris Strickland. Funeral service: Monday, June 16, 2025, at 2 p.m. at Lord and Stephens, Danielsville. Inter ment will follow in the Community Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Ethan Bond, Mitchell McCarty, Malcom McCarty, Jake Bridges, Aaron Bridges, Elliott Bond and Cameron Bridges. Family to receive friends: Sunday, June 15, 2025, from 6 until 8 p.m. at the funeral home. The family is at the home of Wade and Angel Bridges, 1115 Friendship Church Road, Daniels ville, Ga. 30633. The family would like to extend their sincere ap preciation to the wonderful staff of Quiet Oaks in Crawford. Lord and Stephens, Danielsville is in charge of arrangements. www.lordandstephens.com. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Week of June 16-22 James Douglas Forrester HOMER — James Douglas Forrester, 81, passed away at his residence on Sunday, June 8, 2025, in Homer. Born to the late S.T. Forrester and Annie Belle Brumbalow, James was born in Gainesville on Thursday, March 2, 1944. Mr. Forrester was preceded in death by his par ents; sister and brother-in-law, Bonnie and Donald Segars; and brother-in-law, Wayne Bartlett. He is survived by his wife, Gail Smith Forrest er; daughter, Stacy Giles and husband Ken; sons, Doug Forrester and wife Jackie, and Jason Forrest er and wife April; and sister, Pat Bartlett. He is also remembered by many grandchildren, Chris Giles, Stephen Giles and wife Sarah, Caleb Giles and wife Carissa, Brittany Ingram, Justin Forrester and wife Madison, Zoey Ciepiela and husband Rafal, Chase Forrester, Jude Forrester and Olivia Forrest er; as well as great-grandchildren, Addison Giles, Walt Giles, Grant Giles, Ivey Giles, Kaylie Ingram, Karson Ingram, Konner Ingram, Will Forrester and Vivienne Ciepiela. Funeral service: Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 11 a.m. in the chapel at Memorial Park Funeral Home. The Reverend Bobby Ivester will officiate the service, and interment will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. Family to receive friends: Saturday, June 14, 2025, from 10 until 11 a.m. at the funeral home. Memorial Park Funeral Home, 2030 Memori al Park Drive, Gainesville, Georgia 30504, is in charge of arrangements. Please send online condo lences to memorialparkfuneralhomes.com. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Week of June 16-22 Ruby Garrison Free HOMER — Ruby Garrison Free, 95, of Homer, passed away on Sunday, June 8, 2025. Born on April 6, 1930, in Homer, she was the daughter of the late John and Sue Hardy Garri son. Ruby was from the generation that believed in hard work, and she exemplified that ethic with 39 years of service at Carwood Manufacturing and then with another 28 1/2 years at Walmart in Cornelia. Her family was most precious to her, and she enjoyed spending time with them, cooking for and feeding them, as well as any others whom she was around. Ruby was a member of Unity Christian Church, where she enjoyed attending church ser vices. In addition to her par ents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Everett Free; son and daughter-in-law, Morris and Jeanette Free; brothers, Calvin and Charles Garrison. Survivors include her sons and daughters-in- law, Dennis and Lynn Free, and Terry and Di ane Free; grandchildren and spouses, Michael and Lisa Free, James Free, Brian and Jackie Free, Danny Free, Bethany and Janes Nanulaitta, and Darick Free; 14 great-grand- children; 7 great-great-grandchildren; and several extended relatives and friends. Funeral service: Wednesday, June 11, 2025, at 4 p.m. at Bethany Christian Church, with Minister Mike Thompson officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. Family to receive friends: Tuesday, June 10, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Java Evangelism, P.O. Box 215, Bremen, Georgia 30110. McGahee-Griffin & McEntire Funeral Home of Cornelia, Georgia, 706-778-8668, is in charge of arrangements. An online guest register is available and may be viewed at www.mcgaheegriffinand- mcentire.com. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Week of June 16-22 Charles Ellis Gee DANIELSVILLE — Charles Ellis Gee, 81, passed away Thursday, June 12, 2025, at his res idence. Charles was born in Jackson County, where he attended local schools and had lived in Daniels ville for the past 38 years. He was a member of Whitehall Baptist Church and worked as a welder with Chicopee Mills for many years. Charles was an avid fisherman and loved working and being outdoors. Charles was preceded in death by his parents, Summie Riley Gee and Elsie May Anderson Gee; and son, Bobby Gee. He is survived by his wife, Georgia Gee, Dan ielsville; son, Michael Gee and his wife, Marie, Colbert; daughters, Wanda Hamons and her hus band, Eddie, and Judy Gee and her husband, Gary Cheney, all of Danielsville; five grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and his loving dog, Buster. Graveside service and burial: Monday, June 17, 2025, at 2 p.m. in Danielsville Memorial Gardens with the Reverend Jimmy Edwards officiating. Bernstein Funeral Home is in charge of funeral arrangements. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Week of June 16-22 Carl Wayne Holbrook WINDER — Carl Wayne Holbrook, 59, Wind er, entered into rest on Sunday, June 8, 2025. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jayne Holbrook; parents, Kenneth and Charlotte Holbrook; and brother, Robert Holbrook. Carl is survived by his sister, Cathie (Craig) Schuman; daughter, Jessica Lynn Wynch; granddaughter, Hannah (Japeth) Wagner; and great-granddaughter, who all brought him great joy. Carl also leaves behind a host of aunts and uncles, nieces and nephews, cousins and dear friends. Carl will be remembered for his lasting devo tion to his family, his quiet strength, his handy man work and his infamous long brown hair. Carl enjoyed learning and teaching about his Cherokee Indian Heritage. In lieu of flowers, family ask to consider donat ing to The American Foundation for Suicide Pre vention or a Local Food Bank. “Come to me, all you who are weary and bur dened and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 Arrangements by Lawson Funeral Home, 4532 Hwy. 53 Hoschton, Ga. 30548, Lawsonfuneral- home.org, 706-654-0966. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Week of June 16-22 Elizabeth Sarah Nell Drake Loyd BOWMAN — Elizabeth Sarah Nell Drake Loyd, 81, Bowman, wife of 62 years to the late John “Hewell” Loyd, passed away peacefully on Friday, June 13, 2025, surrounded by the love of her family. The eighth of 12 chil dren, Sarah was bom in Madison County on July 18, 1943, to Loyd Joe Drake and Lizzie Belle Parham Drake. A hardworking wom an, she held many jobs throughout the years, working for many years at Oxford Manufactur ing in Bowman, worked for the Internal Revenue Service and retired from Southeastern Power Ad ministration. Sarah loved the Lord and loved worshiping with her church family. She started her relationship with the Lord as a small child at Vineyards Creek Bap tist Church in Comer and continued that relation ship at Faith Baptist Church in Bowman. In her later years, Sarah enjoyed fellowshipping with the Widow’s Ministry at Deep Creek Baptist Church. She loved being outdoors, camping, and spend ing time at the lake. Many special memories were made at the Elbert County Fish and Game Club on Clarks Hill Lake — pontooning, jet skiing and wa ter skiing, just to name a few. In her spare time, she enjoyed reading, cross stitching and flower garden ing. She enjoyed playing bingo at the Elbert Coun ty Senior Center, but above all she loved her family and helping others. Surviving are her daughters, Cynthia Johanson and her husband Sammy, Bowman, and Stephanie Loyd, Colbert; grandchildren, Christina Johanson Davis and her husband Jeff, Kyle Johanson and his wife Grace, Jaxon Marchman and Regan Loyd; siblings, Dorothy Scoggins, Emory Thomas Drake, Donald Drake, Steve Drake and Brenda Loyd; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives. Along with her husband and parents, she is pre ceded in death by her siblings, L.G. Drake, Larry Drake, Barry Drake, Betty Johnson, Peggy Jean Drake and an infant brother. Funeral service: Friday, June 20, 2025, at 3 p.m. at Vineyards Creek Baptist Church with her friend and pastor, the Rev. Jamie Callaway, officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Stanley Johnson, Sammy Johanson, Kyle Johan son, Steve Drake, Jeff Davis and Jeff Johnson serving as pallbearers. Sarah will be placed in the church at 2 p.m. on Friday. Family to receive friends: Thursday, June 19, 2025, from 6-8 p.m. at Berry Funeral Home. Flowers are accepted and contributions may be made in her memory to Faith Baptist Church, 2827 Bowman Highway, Bowman, Ga. 30624. Berry Funeral Home & Crematory of Elberton is respectfully in charge of arrangements for Mrs. Elizabeth Sarah Nell Drake Loyd. Those wishing may sign the online guestbook at berryfh.com. Published by MainStreet Newspapers, Inc. Week of June 16-22 Joyce Evans Poss ) HULL — Joyce Evans Poss, 76, Hull, passed away on Saturday, June 7, 2025. Joyce was a floral de signer and one that de signed with excellence every time she stood at her worktable. In previ ous years, she designed for Flowers Inc. and The Flower and Gift Basket of Athens and was business owner of Floral Designs by Joyce in Watkinsville. She was known for her exquisite Christmas decorations and perfect ribbon making. Joyce loved to cook and made the best sweet potato souffle, banana pudding and peach cobbler you would ever taste. Joyce was an active member of Family Worship Center in Winterville with the Rev. Derrick Jackson (Melinda) as pastor. She is preceded in death by her parents, N.A. Evans and Etoy Pullien Evans of Royston; and a sister, Fay Campbell of Athens. Joyce is survived by her husband of 38 years, Benny Paul Poss; a daughter, Pamela (Gary) Di Carlo, Athens; and son, Christopher Poss, Hull. Joyce is also survived by her siblings, Anne Strick land, Colbert, Ivalyne Fulghum, Royston, Milton continued on next page
